Countdown to New Year – the party girl’s survival guide
The key to enjoying yourself and looking fabulous this New Year is all in the planning - it's most definitely the solution to surviving the non-stop celebrations too.
So when there's no time left for diets, fitness plans and painstaking beauty regimes, here are the sneaky secrets to get you looking your best for the Christmas party season - from 24 hours before, to the 30-minute countdown before the party, plus some tips to help take the pain out of the morning after!
24 hours before the party:
TAKE A SALT BATH
It's too late to diet your way into your little black dress, but you can easily soak off some of the inches. Take a tip from the supermodels and bathe in Epsom salts.
Epsom salts help draw out excess fluid and leave your legs, bum and tum looking visibly slimmer and more toned. To maximise the effect, have a second salts bath before going to the party. The salt water will dry the skin a little though so make sure you treat your skin to plenty of moisturiser.
DITCH FRUIT AND VEG FOR THE DAY
Gas generated by digesting a high-fibre diet can leave the tummy distended and give the appearance of extra pounds, instead eat refined carbs which will provide energy without the bloating. Avoid carbonated drinks as they add gas to your system and once it's in, it has to get out.
If you do feel uncomfortably bloated, WindSetlers Gel Capsules can help you drop a dress size by minimising bloating. WindSetlers Gel Capsules contain activated dimeticone which breaks down bubbles of gas in the stomach, the root cause of uncomfortable and embarrassing bloating and trapped wind. WindSetlers are available from Boots, pharmacies and leading supermarkets across the UK. Always read the label. Visit loveyourtummy.co.uk for more digestive information and expert advice.
CUT BACK ON FATTY FOODS
Apart from the extra calories, eating lots of fat delays the stomach’s digestion rate, this means you are more likely to feel lethargic and bloated, keep your lunch light and easily digestible.
30 minutes before the cab picks you up:
BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Make sure you floss thoroughly and rinse with a mouthwash at least twice during the day to destroy bacteria that cause bad breath – you never know who you might bump into!
AVOID LAST MINUTE INJURIES
Looking festively fabulous will leave some girls feeling hotter than they bargained for. In a quest for sleek and straight party locks, 38 per cent of women will accidentally burn themselves with their hair straighteners whilst getting ready to go out this Christmas.
Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and published medical author, says, “The Christmas party season is a time of the year when household injuries commonly increase, particularly as girls start using their hair straighteners more whilst getting ready for festive parties.
“To avoid permanent scarring you should seek to cool the area as quickly as possible by running it under cold water for at least 10 minutes or by using a cooling burns gel. Remember, you must never ignore a serious burn: if it’s larger than a postage stamp or has penetrated beyond the first layer of skin you should always seek medical advice.”
Acriflex Cooling Burns Gel is available from Morrisons and all good pharmacies nationwide with a retail price of £3.99 for 30g - see burnsadvice.co.uk.
TREAT YOUR FEET
If you're wearing high heeled party shoes, do invest in some gel insoles to cushion the balls of your feet, this will help you carry on dancing all night long.
After a few drinks, avoid ankle injuries or the temptation to go barefoot on the way home by slipping on some fold-up flats or flip flops from your handbag to take you to and from the party.
The morning after the night before:
PREVENT THE PAIN
Hangovers can cause headaches from dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic that switches off an anti-dehydration mechanism in the body causing you to urinate more often than you should. This leads to a headache from dehydration and being thirstier than normal. To make matters worse, alcohol- induced water loss can lead to the additional loss of such minerals as magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc, which are not only important nutrients but are also involved in the maintenance of fluid balance and nerve and muscle action.
Dioralyte is formulated to replace lost water and body salts quickly and efficiently. The contents of the sachets are dissolved in water to provide the fluid. Dioralyte is £3.70 for 6 sachets available from Masters Direct - mastersdirect.com .
HANGOVER BREAKFAST
Choose apple juice or diluted orange juice with eggs on granary toast. The juice will help restore blood glucose levels and stop you feeling jittery whilst the eggs will not only stave off carb cravings because of the protein, but they are also rich in vitamin B12 - one of the B-group vitamins depleted by heavy boozing.
THE EYES HAVE IT
A cold compress will help soothe puffy, red eyes and if they feel dry and affected by smoke use soothing eye drops.
REMEMBER
The best way to avoid annoying accidents or mini dramas is to be prepared! Spending time planning your Christmas can prevent disaster. Brush up on your first aid skills and make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit close by that includes Acriflex Cooling Burns Gel which will quickly ease the inflammation, rapidly cool skin tissues and support your skin’s healing process.
Acriflex Cooling Burns Gel is a breakthrough treatment based on unique OSMO4 technology that’s proven to provide immediate relief to burns and scalds, hydrate the skin to minimise potential scarring and protect against possible infection.
Acriflex Cooling Burns Gel does not contain preservatives, alcohol or perfume. It is a non-sticky gel which is easily absorbed into the skin. Well tolerated and with a good safety profile, Acriflex Cooling Burns Gel is suitable for both adults and children (over 2 years) and can be applied directly onto unbroken skin.
For more information, including expert tips and advice on how to avoid and deal with household burns visit burnsadvice.co.uk.
